The Italian Cycling Center offers an inexpensive and flexible European bicycling vacation for tourists, fitness riders, and racers. Yes, I'm getting the bug to travel and to cycle - where is the sunshine?

"People don't care what you think until they know how much you care."
I took this quote from another blogger. I view her blog every few days but for some reason this quote jumped out at me today. She is amazing and inspiring! http://julesstones.blogspot.com/

I'm in one of those 'deep emotional' moods lately.

Sunday Ride - and a Goose

I’ve had lots of things get in my way while riding. Bratty out-of-control-kids, peoples’ dogs on or off leashes, people not paying attention, rocks, unexpected pot holes, cars… but today I had a goose stand right in the bike lane and he wasn’t moving for me or anything for that matter.

I was riding along the Willamette River in Oregon City clipping along at 16 mph. I'm thinking as I get closer he’ll take a few steps back towards the grass. Nope! The big dumb-ass stands right in the bike lane and stares at me as if to say “Bring it on lady, I’ll bite your leg if you get to close” or “What are you going to do, hit me, I dare you” or “Hellooo, I was here first” Whatever he was thinking I was feeling a bit arrogant myself so I breezed by him close enough to make him flinch or so I thought. He didn’t move a muscle just watched me go by.

Just to clarify, I would never hurt an animal and if there were gozzlings around I'd have slowed down and move but this guy and I just had to have a little stand off. It was cute!

Locks of Love

This will be the second time my daughter has donated her hair to Locks of Love. Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children.

When she was nine she was excited to donate her long hair she found the whole experience very rewarding and it pleased her heart to know her hair would provide for a sick child. This time at 16 when looks are so important and the high school pressures plague all teenagers I saw her struggle with her hair being part of her identity, the one thing that set her apart from the rest. She looked a little torn and even a bit scared of this big change. Her heart hasn’t change, she still loves to help others but like us all societies’ expectations, peer pressure, and a desire to fit in are things we struggle to keep in check.

With a reassuring smile from me she took the plunge and even let me take a few pictures.

Windsor, Ca (Barrel Tasting)

Each year winery’s participate in the annual Barrel Tasting. The goal of Barrel Tasting is the chance to introduce people to wines still in the barrel, help them learn about wine, understand what they’re tasting and offer futures for sale.

I took flight from PDX on Friday and enjoyed a weekend of barrel tasting in the Sonoma Valley area of California.

I visited too many wineries’ to list on my blog but will share the link to my favorite. I enjoyed the wine but also the people and atmosphere.

The only thing that could have made this weekend any better would be to have my bike. The cyclists were out enjoying the sunshine, warm are and decent roads. I was reminded again like on most trips I take how wonderful our Oregon roads are for cyclist.

Wilson Winery by far the best for great wine, nice people, fun relaxed environment and the wine maker is a woman. :)

View of the Wilson vineyard.

Winery Dogs, each winery has a dog... Most were yellow labs but I saw a few different breeds.

Barrels of wine everywhere, yummm.

The wine is extracted from the barrel with a glass wine-theif.

Fun at the Beach

I enjoyed a fantastic day at the beach today... It was a warm 57 degrees with no ocean breeze. The Oregon coast is an amazing place on any day but today it was wrapped in a wonderful package of perfect weather in February.

Astoria, Oregon

The Astoria Column (Height: 125 feet) (Number of steps to the top 164)

Ship wreck at Fort Stevens, Oregon

Elk Refuge off of Hwy 202

February 2008

Somewhere between the dark of winter and the warmth of spring, February is the month of anticipation. Glorious days of sun slip back into cool rain, but while the sun shines we see trees with swelling buds and the first dash of color from eager crocuses.

Spring is near.

Hummingbirds have already staked claim to territories that are still devoid of flowers. Thrushes and sparrows alike have begun practicing their mating serenades. All these activities anticipate the long days of light ahead; the warm temperatures, nectar to fuel bodies, insects to feed young.